Diary of a TCG Newbie: Week 1

Dear Diary,

Hello everyone! I’m Gabz – a twenty-year-old Media and Communication student. I have just started my position as an intern at Vault X.

Before starting my internship, my TCG knowledge could best be summed up in just two words: Pokémon (I can now spell it correctly) and Pikachu. To be fair, I was a fan of the 2016 classic ‘Pokémon Go’… Always one for a challenge, I went into my internship super excited and ready to immerse myself into a pretty unfamiliar world.

Day one was a deep dive into TCG information. First and foremost, I changed the wallpaper on my computers to get me into the mood. I wasn’t joking when I said I only knew about Pikachu.

Two computer screens displaying a vibrant Pikachu image with sunglasses, set in an office environment alongside a water bottle.

Huge shoutout to Gary, our CBO, who patiently walked me through the full history of TCGs, board games, and all the different ways cards can, and should, be protected. We spoke for almost five hours, and by the end, I knew the difference between Exact Fit Sleeves and Soft Sleeves, the details behind our latest SV binders , why Semi-Rigid Card Holders are essential for grading, what grading is, and much more. I had no idea that so much went into protecting cards – safe to say I was very naïve!

A young woman with curly hair and glasses is standing in front of a shelf displaying various colored binders and card protection products, pointing towards the products. The shelf is branded with 'vaultX' and the slogan 'PROTECT YOUR WORLD.'

As a welcome gift, I was given my first packs of cards to open – Lorcana: Archazia’s Island, The First Chapter, and Pokémon: Twilight Masquerade. I am super excited to open them.

Three trading card game packs displayed on a white surface: 'Lorcana: Archazia's Island,' 'Pokémon: Twilight Masquerade,' and 'Lorcana: The First Chapter.'

The rest of the week was packed with various meetings, which gave me a better insight into Vault X’s values and different projects. I also collaborated with Community Executive Ava to create content and brainstorm different ideas for socials. I began to feel quite artsy, so I got creative and took the photo below. It features some of my fave coloured binders: